Did you go?

In this day of modern technology it is easy to sit back in one’s computer chair and wonder why anyone would want to go stand out in the heat of the sun, soaking up all that solar energy, merely to hear some speakers, walk around a silent Capital building and shout slogans. There are three reasons:

1. It means something to politicians to see people commit time, energy, and money to storming their halls.

2. It makes you realize you are not alone and that the people standing up against fracking New York are not outsiders or weird or NIMBYS as the gassers like to rant, but a cross-section of educated, thoughtful people – grandmas, grandpas, mothers, fathers, students, workers, religious leaders, town board members, medical personal, scientists and business people. [Don’t frack our beer or yogurt or wine!] who want a place where their children and grandchildren can grow up safe and healthy.

3. When people around the world see huge crowds of New Yorkers expressing their opinion to their government, they are seeing free speech in action.

So sure we have jobs. Sure we have families. Sure we have commitments. But we came and represented the thousands who couldn’t take off from work, couldn’t leave a loved one unattended, couldn’t afford the bus fare or the gas [and that fossil fuel dependence has to go].

So here is a big thank you to all who came to Albany and told Cuomo NO FRACKING IN NEW YORK! RENEWABLES NOW!

Arun Ghandi wonders why women in India are building solar panels and eletrifying villages there. But we can’t we solar power the USA? Where there’s a will there’s a way.